Shallow Bowl Plantings

Dish or bowl plantings are perfect for succulents with shallow root systems.  Combine a bunch of different textured plants, or make a tiny scene with driftwood and pebbles.

Dish Gardening

Some succulents, like Sedum, Echeveria and others, have shallow root systems, and no tap roots.  They are so amenable to growing with little soil that planting them in a dish or bowl is the logical next step.

I’ve seen combinations of textural and colorful succulents planted closely together, accented with coral, stones and other items to create a fabulous ‘under sea’ panorama.

Dish Garden with mixed succulents

The only real requirement of a bowl or dish that you want to use for planting is that it has a drain hole – don’t count on simply using charcoal or pebbles to provide drainage.

Mounding the soil up in the center of the pot gives it more height, making it easier to see more of the plants.

Lightly cover the top of the soil with lava rock or other mineral type mulch (not organic, such as bark) to give it a more established look, and to hold the soil in place.

Keep in mind that this kind of planting is short term.  The plants can quickly outgrow the space, but in the meanwhile, it makes a super little garden.

Succulent Planter Gallery

How do you contain your succulents? Share it! Do you have a crafty way to display your collection of succulent plants, Sedum, Sempervivum or other gorgeous Drought Smart Plants? Add your favorite planter to the Gallery for inspiration and ideas.

See other Succulent Planter ideas below…

…click on the links to get inspired…

Whimsical birdbath fairy succulent garden 🙂 
I have an old cracked birdbath that still leaked despite trying to seal the cracks. So I decided to use it as a planter instead! I thought succulents …

Succulents in a Pottery Dish 
I have a collection of plants in a pottery dish and if you can tell me what they are, I promise I’ll give them the right kind of care.

What’s in this gorgeous succulent planter – I want one! 
This is a picture that I’ve seen several times on the internet, and I think it’s one of Thomas Hobbs fabulous planters. I really want to know what …

Click here to write your own.